- Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot says Sony’s plan to end production of physical game discs won’t have a big impact on the industry
- Guillemot says the decision has pros and cons
- “I think it won’t disrupt the industry too much,” he says.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot does not believe that Sony’s decision to withdraw production of physical game discs will have a significant impact on the industry.
Guillemot’s comment comes from an earnings call following the release of its 2026-27 first quarter sales (via VGC), during which the CEO was asked whether Sony’s plan to end disc production starting in January 2028 could have a positive or negative effect on the future of the games industry.
While many disagree with Sony’s decision, with some analysts predicting it will jeopardize the $7.2 billion secondhand games market, Guillemot doesn’t believe it will have a major impact on the industry as a whole.
Latest videos ofTechnologyRadar
Bold statements
“What we saw in PC is that it helped grow the market,” Guillemot said. “There is also some pressure for the future on the cost of the machines, and I think being able to be digital only will help to have a more affordable machine.
“As you said, there are advantages and disadvantages, but I think this will not disrupt the industry too much.”
Sony announced its plan earlier this month and experienced an overwhelming reaction from fans. According to Michael Pachter, managing director of strategic planning at Wedbush Securities, Sony’s plan to phase out discs over two years is now a threat to the used games market.
“Realistically, at least a third of games have historically been sold as used, and the games that were sold also provided currency to the player who traded them in as cash to pay for new games,” Pachter said. “Traditional game retailing is doomed.”
Sega president Shuji Utsumi also addressed the controversy, saying that while the digital shift is “crucial,” the company still understands the importance of physical media.
Similarly, former Nippon Ichi Software CEO Sohei Niikawa understands the decision “from a purely business perspective” but says physical editions are still “very important” to fans.
“If they’re going to go as far as removing the physical packages, they might as well remove the hardware,” Niikawa said. “A TV would be enough. Why would you need the console? If you’re going to ditch physical games, you might as well go all the way.”
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
The best game consoles.
